Thread: New AOS Razor

I wouldn't automatically assume a certain brand of razor has bad bevels and you have to reset them. You need to look at it and make that decision for yourself. If you don't like the way it looks and think you can do a better job then do it. Also if the razor is doing it's job why reset the bevel. Why look for trouble?

I haven't had any recent Dovo's the last time I bought a new one was a few years ago and I thought the edges were in good shape. They needed honing, some needed bevel work but I never saw microchips on any.

I think the same about my dovo's. i have a prima klang that shaves fine, i just whipped it on my coticule. I would shave with factory edge . if its not qite how you like?, just try 10 laps on your 12k naniwa. I never had microchips. you could check the edge with a 30k loop

Originally Posted by gary haywood

I think the same about my dovo's. i have a prima klang that shaves fine, i just whipped it on my coticule. I would shave with factory edge . if its not qite how you like?, just try 10 laps on your 12k naniwa. I never had microchips. you could check the edge with a 30k loop

i like wtg, not atg. and funny thing about loops, it seems none are actually 30k. the ones that are, only differ in price from an OK microscope by 10-20 bucks. only thing that bothers me is. I know not EVERYONE hones with an optical device. why me? i'm a bare bones type of guy. so i really would like to hone with only hands and stones.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I wouldn't automatically assume a certain brand of razor has bad bevels and you have to reset them. You need to look at it and make that decision for yourself. If you don't like the way it looks and think you can do a better job then do it. Also if the razor is doing it's job why reset the bevel. Why look for trouble?
. . . .

+1. Evaluate the edge with a loupe (or microscope) before starting to hone it.

If you don't have either tool, start with 10 or 20 light laps on your finest stone, and test the result. If it's no good, drop to the next-finest stone (or use more pressure). And so on.

If you had a pasted strop, I'd suggest starting with that.

You have a problem to deal with:

. . . You don't have _proven_ honing skills.

So do as little damage as possible -- which means using the finest stone that you have.

Charles

Yeah, the 4 out of 4 dovos with a factory edge I've honed in the last several months all needed bevel work. Shavingwise they were what I consider barely shaving, though I'm sure many new people simply struggle through with that and end up either suffering, giving up, or finding a way to get a proper edge. But that's a pretty small sample, somebody like Lynn who hones a ton of them all the time would know best what state they typically come in, though there will always be variations.

The problem with doing these things over the internet is that it's almost impossible to evaluate the edge of somebody's razor. Best course of action always is to find somebody local who's good at it and who's willing to help.

Originally Posted by gugi

Yeah, the 4 out of 4 dovos with a factory edge I've honed in the last several months all needed bevel work. Shavingwise they were what I consider barely shaving, though I'm sure many new people simply struggle through with that and end up either suffering, giving up, or finding a way to get a proper edge. But that's a pretty small sample, somebody like Lynn who hones a ton of them all the time would know best what state they typically come in, though there will always be variations.

The problem with doing these things over the internet is that it's almost impossible to evaluate the edge of somebody's razor. Best course of action always is to find somebody local who's good at it and who's willing to help.

a daunting task from what i have found.

You do need to evaluate the edge first. I recently purchased some Factory Dovo's. The one I opened was surprisingly ok. All it needed was a go on my Escher. That's it. No bevel work. I always try to do the least amount of work possible to spare wear, so if the bevel is ok, and it's amost there, I'll just grab a finisher, then maybe 10 lapps on .50 Diamond spray on felt, and I'm good to go. Of course, since these blades are done by hand at Solingen, there are differences from blade to blade, Evaluation is a must, YMMV. Here's a vid from youtube on how Dovo's are made...Making DOVO Straight Razors - YouTube